16+ Supported Accommodation Framework and Block Contract

<p>Plymouth City Council has a statutory duty under Section 22G of the Children Act 1989 to ensure there are sufficient placements in the local area to meet the needs of children and young people in care. These placements need to cover a broad range of provision, including children&rsquo;s homes, residential special schools and foster care. This also includes supported accommodation for young people aged 16 and 17, and some young people as they leave care and step into independent living. This type of provision is not currently required to be regulated by Ofsted or the CQC, as it offers support rather than care. The DfE are currently considering the introduction of some national quality standards for this type of provision and this is welcomed in further driving up quality. The needs of the young people using this service range considerably, with some demonstrating significant levels of complexity: &bull; Poor emotional wellbeing and low self-esteem; &bull; Poor mental health (some may be known to CAMHS, on waiting list or not engaging); &bull; Poor self-care, leading to poor physical health; &bull; Experience of domestic and/or sexual violence and abuse; &bull; Experience of neglect and poor parenting; &bull; Self-harming behaviour; &bull; Risk taking behaviours including risky sexual behaviour and relationships; &bull; Frequent missing episodes; &bull; Suicidal thoughts; &bull; Learning difficulties, on autistic spectrum; &bull; Substance misuse; &bull; Criminal activity and re-offending experiences; &bull; Poor social and practical skills including financial management; &bull; Challenging relationships with family/carers/ wider support networks including experience of rejection. Young people may also struggle to reconcile being in or leaving care with a pull back towards their birth family, alongside anxieties about what will happen to them in the future. Plymouth City Council is a Trauma Informed City and seeks to work with providers who understand the impact of trauma on young people in relation to their complex behaviours. We are seeking to work closely with providers who understand the needs of our young people, and are focused on working in partnership with the Council and other partners such as the Complex Lives Alliance to support positive transitions and outcomes. We are also seeking to work with providers who deliver provision which is of good quality and likely to meet national minimum standards (or be able to work towards a rapid compliance with any new national minimum standards) for 16+ supported accommodation. Plymouth City Council are seeking to improve the availability of 16+ supported accommodation within the Plymouth City Council local authority boundary, and also provision up to 20 miles from the local authority boundary. It is our aim to increase the local employment opportunities and spend on services in Plymouth, in line with the Spend4Plymouth and Resurgam programmes.</p>